Lock Form

Lock Type

Key

Key

Key

Cable only

Cable only

Key

Key

Key

Key

Rating

(4.8 / 5)

(4.6 / 5)

(4.8 / 5)

(4.5 / 5)

(4.7 / 5)

(4.3 / 5)

(4.2 / 5)

(4.0 / 5)

(4.3 / 5)

Price

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The chart of locks above only starts to scratch the surface of what’s available. There are so many manufacturers and models of bike lock, it would be impossible to list everything. However, our selection covers the best locks available in each category and price range.

What is a Bike Lock?

A bike lock is an essential part of bicycle security. It’s not possible to keep your bike with you at all times or to always have it in eyeshot. When you’re out and about, being able to lock down your bike increases the odds that it will still be there when you return.

Bike Locks Buying Guide

With all of the options available, there are some things to consider when purchasing a bike lock. Considering these factors will make it easier to make a selection.

The first factor to consider is the price. As with many things in life, you get what you pay for. If you’re bike is very valuable to you — either financially or emotionally — you probably shouldn’t risk it with a cheap lock. But that’s not to say that the most expensive lock is necessarily the best. As this site shows, there are many viable options that won’t break the bank.

Finding the best bike lock will also involve considering the form of the lock. A cable or chain lock can easily be carried in a backpack or wrapped around the frame of your bicycle. A U-lock, while seen as some to be more secure, can be a little bit harder to manage because of its rigid shape. Some smart manufacturers have overcome this obstacle with a frame bracket that stores the lock when it’s not in use. U-locks also tend to be less versatile than chains or cables. They work great with bike racks, but if you need to lock your bike to something larger like a telephone pole, the U-lock will need to be used alongside a cable or chain.

It’s also important to take into consideration the reputation of the manufacturer and reviews of other consumers who have used the lock. We cover all these factors on this site to help you make the right decision for your bike security needs.

How to Choose the Best Bike Lock

Know Your Goals

For practical purposes, finding the right lock is an act of risk management. The best security is the same across the board: multiple locks firmly fastening all of the parts of your bike together and the bike itself to an immovable object.

However, this security comes at a cost — both in the price of purchasing all those locks as well as the difficulty in transporting those locks with you every where you go and the difficulty of actually fastening and unfastening them every time you go somewhere.

Figuring out which bike lock is best for you depends on where you plan to ride and park your bicycle. Obviously the best lock for a weekend-only recreational biker in the country will be different than a daily commuter in an ultra-urban setting.

The nice folks over at Kryptonite have created a handy little chart to break it down visually.

Where you park your bike, for how long, and during what time of day will determine how much security you need, which in turn will help you figure out your ideal lock(s).

Minimum Security: Inside Your Home

If you have a home large enough to keep your bike inside, you don’t need any additional security for your bike other than what you already have in protecting your home.

Moderate Security: Rural Areas, Suburb Lock-Ups (Short Time)

Bikers in rural areas will need to consider purchasing a lock, but not necessarily the most robust or expensive bike security equipment. An hour or less should be fine with a cable lock like the Abus Numero as a deterrent.

For longer periods of time or for lock-ups in the suburbs, a basic U-lock like the Kryptolok Series 2 is a good choice.

If you’re feeling especially brave, you might risk a solitary U-lock in a metropolitan area if it will only be for a short period of time and if the lock-up is under surveillance. Anything longer than that requires high security.

If you’re locking up your bike for a long period of time in metropolitan areas during the day or overnight in the suburbs, you should consider a high security option.

The Kryptonite Evolution is a tougher U-lock that is perfect for these situations. Its thicker shackle and double deadbolt locking mechanism make it stronger than the standard U-lock, providing you more security with minimal increase in inconvenience.

Ultimate Security

Major metropolitan areas and college campuses are two of the most likely places to have your bicycle stolen. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is or how long you plan to have your bike parked: in these locations, you’ll need to practice ultimate bike security to make sure your bike is still waiting for you when you return.

At this level of risk, it’s unwise to use only one lock. At least you should use a strong U-lock like the Kryptonite Evolution along with a cable like the Onguard Akita.

Adding an extra layer of security with a chain lock is an excellent way to boost your security even higher. The Kryptonite New York Noose makes a great addition to your lock combo.

With this many locks on your bike, not only does it make it extraordinarily difficult for a thief to steal your bike, it’s more likely that a thief — seeing so many locks on the bike — will pick an easier target without even attempting to snatch yours.

Best Bike Lock Reviews

The locks in the chart above, and those in our full guide, are all great locks for protecting your bike, but because the form of the lock can have a big impact on its functionality, lets look at some of the best locks by category.

Chain Lock: Kryptonite New York Noose 1275 Chain Bicycle Lock Review

Chain locks are very secure, but they are also very heavy and difficult to transport. A good bike security strategy is to keep a chain lock where you often leave your bicycle locked down for long periods of time — such as home, work, or school. That way it will be ready and waiting for you when you arrive, and it will keep your bike very secure until you leave.

One excellent chain lock is the Kryptonite New York Noose 1275. While many chain locks weigh 15 pounds or more, the 1275 is a lot lighter at 7.1 pounds, but still very secure. The chain links are 12-millimeter-thick, six-sided, manganese links. At the end of the chain is a larger cinch ring so you can wrap the chain around a stationary object and fasten the lock to your bike’s frame. It has a “double deadbolt” lock adds extra protection over standard locks, and it comes with 3 keys, one of which has an LED so you can see what you’re doing at night.

Also, when you register your New York Noose with Kryptonite, they offer one year free $3500 anti-theft protection for bikes.

Cuff Lock: Master Lock 8295DPS Quantum Cuff Review

Most cuff locks are similar to a cable lock. But instead of having just a loop on the ends, the “cuff” is a lock like a handcuff. So you could potentially use this style of lock independently. There are a few different variations to this type of lock: some have one cuff with a loop on the other end; some have cuffs on both sides; some are on a cable, others are on a chain. How to use the cuff and which one to get depends on your situation.

The Master Lock 8295DPS Quantum Cuff is a 6-foot cable with a loop on one end and the cuff on the other. The cuff is large enough to fit a range of stationary objects from frames to parking meters, and the cable is long enough to wrap around larger objects — even trees.

Cable Lock: OnGuard Akita Loop Cable Lock Review

Cable locks are not as durable as a U-lock and could easily be cut with bolt cutters. This makes them less of a deterrent against thieves. They are best used as a secondary lock to hold the frame, wheels, and seat together.

The OnGuard Akita Loop Cable Lock is one of the best cable locks. The cable comes in four sizes (listed by length, longest to shortest):

Extra long: 4.6 meters long x 10 millimeters thick (15′ x 0.39”)

Long: 220 centimeters long x 10 mm thick (7.13′ x 0.39”)

Medium: 120 centimeters long x 10 mm thick (4′ x 0.39″)

Short: 53 centimeters x 5 millimeters (1.72′ x 0.20”)

The thickness of this cable makes it very beefy, and the openings on the ends of the cable are large enough for any size lock or even to put the other side through to form a loop.

U-Lock: Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Mini-5 Review

The U-lock is one of the best combinations of mobility and security. It is formed in the shape of the letter “U” (thus the name) with a cross bar connecting the two sides together. This type of lock is useful for locking together the wheel and frame of the bike — especially on bikes with a detachable wheel. Because the U-lock is rigid, manufacturers have the option of making these out of insanely durable materials, thereby creating very rugged locks.

The Kryptonite Evolution Series 4 Mini-5 is an excellent example of a durable U-lock. This picture is of the limited edition 40th anniversary version of Kryptonite’s most popular model. It has a full black chrome finish and clear dust cover, and it is the perfect size to lock the back wheel to a post, or to lock the front wheel to the frame in combination with another U-Lock holding the back wheel to a post. Because of its light weight (approx. 2 lbs) it is very mobile yet very strong and secure.

Conclusion

Now that you have seen the options and reviewed our top picks for the best bike lock on the market, its up to you to pick what meets your needs, is in your price range, and overall meets your needs for bicycle security.

As you know, new bike locks are being created all the time by new and old manufacturers. For that reason, the comparison chart above will be updated as new bike locks need to be added to the list. Or if you feel like we missed a superior lock that needs to be included on the list, let me know in the comments below!